500+ Idioms for IELTS: Phrases for Speaking, & Writing Preparation

Do you remember your grandma using local idioms while telling you an interesting story? Those idioms in our local languages are poles apart from English idioms that play a key part in cracking the lexical vocabulary section in the IELTS exam. In the IELTS speaking test, idioms have a distinctive role because they can assist you in exhibiting your grasp of English. If you are thinking of finding the right mantra to nail the use of idioms for IELTS, phrases for speaking & writing preparation, this blog is ideal for you. Here we will be taking a look at significant idioms for IELTS, along with the tips and tricks to utilise them during the test. That being said, read the article to learn more about useful idioms for IELTS exams.

What are Idioms for IELTS Speaking?

Idioms for IELTS Speaking are commonly used phrases in English where the meaning isn’t obvious from the individual words. These expressions add color and depth to your speech and help you sound more like a native speaker. For example, saying “break the ice” instead of “start a conversation” shows natural fluency. Native speakers use idioms all the time without even realizing it because they’ve grown up hearing them. If you use idioms correctly in the IELTS Speaking test, especially in Parts 2 and 3, it shows the examiner that you’re confident, expressive, and comfortable using real-world English.

What is the use of Idioms for IELTS Speaking Band 9?

Idioms for IELTS Speaking are a powerful tool to make your responses sound more natural and engaging. They help you express ideas with style and show the examiner that you’re confident using English in a real-world context. 

For instance, using hit the nail on the head instead of be exactly right reflects a deeper grasp of the language.

• Idioms for IELTS Speaking help you sound more like a native speaker, which is essential for achieving a high score in the speaking test.

• Using idioms correctly shows your ability to speak natural and fluent English, which is a key requirement for Band 9.

• Idioms enhance your lexical resource, as they reflect a wider range of vocabulary used accurately and flexibly.

• Idioms for IELTS Speaking make your answers more engaging and expressive, positively contributing to your fluency and coherence score.

• Correct idiom usage shows that your language is not only accurate but also spontaneous and confident, both are essential for a Band 9 performance.

300+ Most Common Idioms for the IELTS Speaking Exam

Explore this List of 100 Idioms for the IELTS Speaking Exam to boost your fluency and impress the examiner. These commonly used expressions will help you sound natural, confident, and closer to a Band 9 performance.

Idioms for IELTS Speaking Exam	Meaning	Example Sentence
A blessing in disguise	Something that seems bad but turns out to be good	Losing my job was a blessing in disguise because it led me to start my own business.
A chip on your shoulder	Being defensive or sensitive about something	He has a chip on his shoulder about not going to university.
A dime a dozen	Very common and easy to find	Good restaurants are a dime a dozen in this city.
A drop in the ocean	A very small amount compared to what’s needed	My donation was just a drop in the ocean compared to what they needed.
A fish out of water	Someone in an unfamiliar situation	I felt like a fish out of water at the formal dinner party.
A picture is worth a thousand words	Visual images convey more than words	The documentary showed the effects of pollution – a picture is worth a thousand words.
A piece of cake	Something very easy	The exam was a piece of cake after all that studying.
A storm in a teacup	Making a big deal out of something minor	The argument was just a storm in a teacup.
A watched pot never boils	Time seems longer when you’re waiting	Stop checking your email constantly; a watched pot never boils.
Actions speak louder than words	What you do is more important than what you say	He promised to help, but actions speak louder than words.
Add fuel to the fire	Make a bad situation worse	Complaining to the manager will only add fuel to the fire.
All ears	Listening carefully	I’m all ears; tell me what happened.
All in the same boat	In the same difficult situation	We’re all in the same boat when it comes to finding affordable housing.
All thumbs	Clumsy with your hands	I am all thumbs when it comes to fixing electronics.
An arm and a leg	Very expensive	That designer bag costs an arm and a leg.
Apple of my eye	Someone very dear to you	My daughter is the apple of my eye.
As easy as pie	Very easy	Learning to drive was as easy as pie for me.
As fit as a fiddle	In excellent health	My grandfather is 80 but still as fit as a fiddle.
As good as gold	Very well-behaved	The children were as good as gold during the ceremony.
As right as rain	Perfectly fine	After a good night’s sleep, I will be as right as rain.
At the drop of a hat	Immediately, without hesitation	She would travel anywhere at the drop of a hat.
Back to square one	Starting over from the beginning	The project failed, so we were back to square one.
Back to the drawing board	Start planning something again	The proposal was rejected; back to the drawing board.
Barking up the wrong tree	Pursuing the wrong course of action	You’re barking up the wrong tree if you think I took your book.
Beat around the bush	Avoid talking directly about something	Stop beating around the bush and tell me what happened.
Better late than never	It’s better to do something late than not at all	I finally finished my degree at 40; better late than never.
Better safe than sorry	It’s better to be cautious	I’ll take an umbrella; better safe than sorry.
Birds of a feather flock together	Similar people tend to associate with each other	Those two are always together; birds of a feather flock together.
Bite off more than you can chew	Take on more than you can handle	I bit off more than I could chew with this project.
Bite the bullet	Face something difficult bravely	I decided to bite the bullet and ask for a raise.
Blow hot and cold	Keep changing your mind	She blows hot and cold about the job offer.
Break a leg	Good luck	Break a leg in your presentation tomorrow!
Break the ice	Start a conversation in a friendly way	He told a joke to break the ice.
Burn the midnight oil	Work very late	I had to burn the midnight oil to finish the report.
Bury the hatchet	End a disagreement and become friends again	After years of fighting, they decided to bury the hatchet.
By the skin of your teeth	Just barely succeed	I passed the exam by the skin of my teeth.
Call it a day	Stop working for the day	We’ve done enough work – let’s call it a day.
Caught red-handed	Caught in the act of doing something wrong	The thief was caught red-handed stealing the wallet.
Cost an arm and a leg	Be very expensive	The repairs will cost an arm and a leg.
Cross your fingers	Hope for good luck	Cross your fingers that the weather stays nice.
Cry over spilled milk	Regret something that can’t be changed	There’s no point crying over spilled milk; let’s move on.
Cut corners	Do something cheaply or quickly	They cut corners on the construction and now there are problems.
Cut to the chase	Get to the point	Cut to the chase; do you want the job or not?
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch	Don’t assume success before it happens	I might get promoted, but I won’t count my chickens before they hatch.
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket	Don’t risk everything on one opportunity	Invest in different companies – don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
Easy does it	Be careful and gentle	Easy does it when moving that fragile vase.
Every cloud has a silver lining	Something good comes from every bad situation	Losing my job led to better opportunities – every cloud has a silver lining.
Face the music	Accept responsibility for something you’ve done	I made a mistake and now I have to face the music.
Get a taste of your own medicine	Experience the same treatment you give others	The bully got a taste of his own medicine when someone stood up to him.
Get cold feet	Become nervous about something you planned to do	I got cold feet about the bungee jump.
Get out of hand	Become uncontrollable	The party got out of hand when too many people showed up.
Get your act together	Organise yourself and behave properly	You need to get your act together if you want to pass.
Give someone the cold shoulder	Ignore someone deliberately	After our argument, she gave me the cold shoulder.
Go the extra mile	Make additional effort	Our teacher always goes the extra mile to help students.
Hang in there	Don’t give up	The course is difficult, but hang in there.
Hit the hay	Go to bed	I am tired; I am going to hit the hay.
Hit the nail on the head	Be exactly right about something	You hit the nail on the head with that analysis.
Hold your horses	Wait, slow down	Hold your horses; we need to think about this first.
In hot water	In trouble	I am in hot water with my boss for being late.
In the nick of time	Just in time	The ambulance arrived in the nick of time.
It’s a piece of cake	It’s very easy	Don’t worry about the test; it is a piece of cake.
It’s not rocket science	It’s not very complicated	Cooking pasta isn’t rocket science.
Jump on the bandwagon	Join others in doing something popular	Everyone’s learning Spanish, so I decided to jump on the bandwagon.
Keep your chin up	Stay positive	I know things are tough, but keep your chin up.
Kill two birds with one stone	Accomplish two things with one action	I can visit my friend and go shopping; kill two birds with one stone.
Let the cat out of the bag	Reveal a secret	I accidentally let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.
Make a long story short	Summarize briefly	To make a long story short, we missed our flight.
No pain, no gain	You must work hard to achieve something	Training for a marathon is tough, but no pain, no gain.
Once in a blue moon	Very rarely	I only eat fast food once in a blue moon.
Piece of cake	Something very easy	The driving test was a piece of cake.
Pull someone’s leg	Joke with someone	I was just pulling your leg about the ghost story.
Spill the beans	Tell a secret	Come on, spill the beans about what happened.
The ball is in your court	It’s your turn to make a decision	I’ve made my offer;  the ball is in your court now.
Under the weather	Feeling sick	I’m feeling a bit under the weather today.
When pigs fly	Never	I will clean my room when pigs fly.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush	Something you have is better than something you might get	I will keep this job rather than risk a new one; a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
A penny for your thoughts	What are you thinking about?	You look deep in thought; a penny for your thoughts?
A picture paints a thousand words	Images convey more information than words	The before and after photos tell the whole story; a picture paints a thousand words.
A snowball’s chance in hell	No chance at all	He has a snowball’s chance in hell of winning the lottery.
Above board	Honest and legal	All our business dealings are completely above board.
Achilles’ heel	A weakness	Mathematics is my Achilles’ heel.
Against the clock	In a hurry to finish before a deadline	We’re working against the clock to complete the project.
All bark and no bite	Threatening but not dangerous	Don’t worry about him; he is all bark and no bite.
All eyes on me	Everyone is watching	I felt nervous with all eyes on me during the presentation.
All Greek to me	Completely incomprehensible	This computer manual is all Greek to me.
All over the map	Disorganised or inconsistent	His essay was all over the map with no clear argument.
An old flame	A former romantic partner	I ran into an old flame at the reunion.
At a crossroads	At a point where a decision must be made	I’m at a crossroads in my career.
At the end of your rope	Having no more patience or options	I’m at the end of my rope with this problem.
Back against the wall	In a difficult situation with no escape	With the deadline tomorrow, I have my back against the wall.
Bad blood	Hostility between people	There’s bad blood between those two families.
Bend over backwards	Make a great effort to help	The hotel staff bent over backwards to make our stay comfortable.
Between a rock and a hard place	Faced with two difficult choices	I’m between a rock and a hard place with this decision.
Bite your tongue	Stop yourself from speaking	I wanted to argue, but I bit my tongue.
Blood is thicker than water	Family relationships are stronger than friendships	Despite our differences, blood is thicker than water.
Burn bridges	Damage relationships	Don’t burn bridges when you leave your job.
Can’t judge a book by its cover	Don’t judge based on appearance	He looks tough, but you can’t judge a book by its cover.
Caught between two stools	Unable to choose between alternatives	I am caught between two stools with these job offers.
Come hell or high water	No matter what happens	I will be there come hell or high water.
Don’t bite the hand that feeds you	Don’t harm someone who helps you	Be grateful to your sponsor; don’t bite the hand that feeds you.
Don’t cry over spilt milk	Don’t regret what cannot be changed	The opportunity is gone, but don’t cry over spilt milk.
Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth	Don’t be ungrateful for a gift	The car is old but free; don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
Down in the dumps	Feeling sad or depressed	She has been down in the dumps since losing her job.
Everything but the kitchen sink	Almost everything possible	They packed everything but the kitchen sink for vacation.
Fish or cut bait	Make a decision	Stop delaying; fish or cut bait on this proposal.
Get off on the wrong foot	Start badly	We got off on the wrong foot, but we’re friends now.
Hit below the belt	Be unfair	Mentioning his divorce was hitting below the belt.
In seventh heaven	Extremely happy	I was in seventh heaven when I got the promotion.
Jump the gun	Act too early	Don’t jump the gun; wait for official confirmation.
Keep your eyes peeled	Stay alert and watch carefully	Keep your eyes peeled for the exit sign.
Let sleeping dogs lie	Avoid bringing up old problems	Don’t mention the argument; let sleeping dogs lie.
Make mountains out of molehills	Make small problems seem big	You are making mountains out of molehills about this test.
Off the hook	No longer in trouble	The alibi got him off the hook.
On cloud nine	Extremely happy	She’s been on cloud nine since her engagement.
On the ball	Alert and competent	The new employee is really on the ball.
Over the moon	Extremely pleased	I’m over the moon about getting into university.
Pull the wool over someone’s eyes	Deceive someone	Don’t try to pull the wool over my eyes with that excuse.
Put your foot in your mouth	Say something embarrassing	I put my foot in my mouth when I asked about her ex-husband.
Shooting fish in a barrel	Something extremely easy	Beating their team was like shooting fish in a barrel.
Steal someone’s thunder	Take credit for someone else’s achievement	He stole my thunder by announcing my idea first.
Take it with a grain of salt	Don’t believe everything	Take his story with a grain of salt.
The early bird catches the worm	Success comes to those who start early	I always arrive at sales early;  the early bird catches the worm.
Throw caution to the wind	Take a risk	I threw caution to the wind and moved to another country.
Time flies	Time passes quickly	Time flies when you’re having fun.
Weather the storm	Survive a difficult period	The company weathered the storm of the recession.
You can’t have your cake and eat it too	You can’t have everything	Choose between job security or high pay; you can’t have your cake and eat it too.
A leopard can’t change its spots	People don’t change their basic nature	I don’t trust him;  a leopard can’t change its spots.
A wolf in sheep’s clothing	Someone who appears harmless but is dangerous	That friendly salesman is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Beat a dead horse	Continue arguing about something already decided	Stop complaining about the new policy; you are beating a dead horse.
Cross that bridge when you come to it	Deal with problems when they arise	Don’t worry about next year’s exams; cross that bridge when you come to it.
Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today	Don’t procrastinate	Finish your homework now – don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
Every dog has its day	Everyone gets their moment of success	Don’t give up; every dog has its day.
Get down to brass tacks	Focus on the important details	Let’s get down to brass tacks and discuss the budget.
In for a penny, in for a pound	If you start something, complete it	I’ve invested so much time already; in for a penny, in for a pound.
It takes two to tango	Both parties are responsible	The marriage failed, but it takes two to tango.
Keep your cards close to your chest	Keep your plans secret	He is keeping his cards close to his chest about the merger.
Let bygones be bygones	Forget past disagreements	We should let bygones be bygones and move forward.
Money doesn’t grow on trees	Money is not easily obtained	You can’t have everything you want; money doesn’t grow on trees.
The devil is in the details	Problems are often in the small details	The contract looks good, but the devil is in the details.
A stitch in time saves nine	Fix problems early to prevent bigger issues	Repair that leak now; a stitch in time saves nine.
Beat the heat	Find relief from hot weather	We went to the mall to beat the heat.
Cool as a cucumber	Calm under pressure	She stayed cool as a cucumber during the crisis.
Don’t judge a book by its cover	Don’t judge based on appearance alone	He may look unfriendly, but don’t judge a book by its cover.
Get a second wind	Regain energy after being tired	I got a second wind and finished the race strong.
Hit the books	Study hard	Final exams are coming; I need to hit the books.
Keep your powder dry	Be prepared for action	Keep your powder dry; we might need to act quickly.
Like a bull in a china shop	Clumsy and destructive	He moved through the antique store like a bull in a china shop.
Mind your own business	Don’t interfere in others’ affairs	When neighbours argue, it is best to mind your own business.
Out of the woods	No longer in danger	The patient is out of the woods now.
Play devil’s advocate	Argue the opposite point for discussion	Let me play devil’s advocate and ask about the risks.
Rome wasn’t built in a day	Great things take time	John is musical like his father, a chip off the old block.
Speak of the devil	The person we were talking about appears	Speak of the devil; here comes John now!
The squeaky wheel gets the grease	Those who complain get attention	If you want better service, complain – the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
A chip off the old block	Someone who resembles their parent	John is musical like his father; a chip off the old block.
Bite the hand that feeds you	Harm someone who helps you	Criticising your boss is biting the hand that feeds you.
Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched	Don’t assume success too early	The deal isn’t final yet; don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched.
Every rose has its thorn	Good things often have bad aspects	The job pays well, but every rose has its thorn; the hours are long.
Go against the grain	Do something contrary to normal	His unconventional methods go against the grain.
In the heat of the moment	During an emotional time	I said things I regret in the heat of the moment.
Like finding a needle in a haystack	Very difficult to find	Finding a good apartment here is like finding a needle in a haystack.
Put all your eggs in one basket	Risk everything on one venture	Investing everything in one stock is putting all your eggs in one basket.
The grass is always greener on the other side	Other situations seem better than your own	He thinks other jobs are better, but the grass is always greener on the other side.
A penny saved is a penny earned	Saving money is like earning money	I shop at discount stores; a penny saved is a penny earned.
Curiosity killed the cat	Being too curious can be dangerous	Don’t ask too many questions; curiosity killed the cat.
Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth	Don’t criticise something you receive for free	The used car was free, so don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
Ignorance is bliss	Not knowing about problems is sometimes better	I don’t want to know about office politics; ignorance is bliss.
Kill the goose that lays golden eggs	Destroy something that benefits you	Firing the best salesman would kill the goose that lays golden eggs.
Make hay while the sun shines	Take advantage of good conditions	Business is good now; make hay while the sun shines.
There’s no smoke without fire	Rumors usually have some truth	People are talking about layoffs – there’s no smoke without fire.
A watched pot never boils	Time moves slowly when you’re waiting	Stop checking the clock constantly; a watched pot never boils.
Don’t bite off more than you can chew	Don’t take on more than you can handle	Three part-time jobs might be biting off more than you can chew.
Make a mountain out of a molehill	Exaggerate a small problem	One bad grade isn’t the end; don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.
The best things in life are free	The most valuable things cost nothing	Love, friendship, health; the best things in life are free.
You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink	You can’t force someone to do something	I gave him advice, but you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.
A rolling stone gathers no moss	People who keep moving don’t get attached	He never stays in one job long; a rolling stone gathers no moss.
Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater	Don’t discard something good with the bad	The plan has problems, but don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Good things come to those who wait	Patience brings rewards	I have been applying for months, but good things come to those who wait.
Haste makes waste	Rushing leads to mistakes	Take your time with the project; haste makes waste.
Lightning never strikes twice	The same bad thing won’t happen again	Don’t worry about another accident ; lightning never strikes twice.
Practice makes perfect	Repetition improves skill	Keep studying the language – practice makes perfect.
Strike while the iron is hot	Act when conditions are favorable	The market is good now; strike while the iron is hot.
The proof is in the pudding	Judge something by its results	The new system sounds good, but the proof is in the pudding.
Where there’s a will, there’s a way	Determination overcomes obstacles	I will find a way to afford college; where there’s a will, there’s a way.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step	Big achievements start with small actions	Writing a novel seems impossible, but a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Don’t cross your bridges before you come to them	Don’t worry about future problems	The interview is tomorrow, but don’t cross your bridges before you come to them.
Fortune favours the bold	Taking risks often leads to success	He invested in the startup; fortune favours the bold.
Great minds think alike	Smart people have similar ideas	You had the same idea? Great minds think alike!
If you can’t beat them, join them	Sometimes it’s better to go along with opponents	The new policy is unpopular, but if you can’t beat them, join them.
It’s an ill wind that blows nobody good	Every bad situation benefits someone	The storm damaged many shops, but it’s an ill wind that blows nobody good – repair companies are busy.
Many hands make light work	Tasks are easier with more people	Let’s all help clean; many hands make light work.
Necessity is the mother of invention	Need drives creativity	They created a new solution because necessity is the mother of invention.
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure	People value different things	I love this old furniture; one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
The customer is always right	Businesses should satisfy customers	Even if we disagree, remember the customer is always right.
Two wrongs don’t make a right	Retaliation doesn’t solve problems	He was rude, but two wrongs don’t make a right.
A friend in need is a friend indeed	True friends help in difficult times	She helped me move house; a friend in need is a friend indeed.
Don’t judge others until you walk in their shoes	Don’t criticise without understanding their situation	His behaviour seems strange, but don’t judge others until you walk in their shoes.
Honesty is the best policy	Being truthful is always best	Tell your boss about the mistake – honesty is the best policy.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it	Don’t change something that works well	The old system works fine – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Look before you leap	Think carefully before acting	Consider all options; look before you leap.
Slow and steady wins the race	Consistent effort brings success	I study a little each day; slow and steady wins the race.
The pen is mightier than the sword	Words are more powerful than violence	Use persuasion, not force;  the pen is mightier than the sword.
You reap what you sow	You get results based on your actions	He worked hard all semester, and you reap what you sow.
A bad workman blames his tools	Incompetent people blame their equipment	He says the computer is slow, but a bad workman blames his tools.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder	People have different ideas about what’s attractive	I love modern art, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Don’t cry over spilt milk	Don’t regret things you can’t change	The mistake is made; don’t cry over spilt milk.
Give credit where credit is due	Acknowledge others’ contributions	The project succeeded because of the team; give credit where credit is due.
Half a loaf is better than none	Something is better than nothing	The part-time job isn’t ideal, but half a loaf is better than none.
It’s no use crying over spilt milk	Don’t regret unchangeable events	The exam is over; it is no use crying over spilt milk.
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer	Monitor potential threats	Watch the competition carefully – keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
Life begins at forty	The best years come later in life	Don’t worry about ageing; life begins at forty.
Old habits die hard	It’s difficult to change established patterns	He’s trying to quit smoking, but old habits die hard.
Prevention is better than cure	Avoiding problems is better than solving them	Exercise regularly; prevention is better than cure.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions	Good intentions don’t guarantee good results	I meant to help, but the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
You can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs	Achievement requires sacrifice	Success requires hard work; you can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs.
A house divided against itself cannot stand	Unity is necessary for success	The team must work together; a house divided against itself cannot stand.
Don’t put the cart before the horse	Do things in the correct order	Get the job first, then buy the car – don’t put the cart before the horse.
Empty vessels make the most noise	Ignorant people talk the most	He talks constantly but knows little; empty vessels make the most noise.
Hope for the best, prepare for the worst	Be optimistic but ready for problems	The weather looks good, but hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
If you want something done right, do it yourself	Rely on yourself for important tasks	The report was wrong again; if you want something done right, do it yourself.
Knowledge is power	Information gives you an advantage	Study the market before investing – knowledge is power.
Laughter is the best medicine	Humour helps with problems	After the disappointment, she tried to joke;  laughter is the best medicine.
Money talks	Wealth gives you influence	The donation got him a meeting; money talks.
One swallow doesn’t make a summer	One example doesn’t prove a trend	The company had one good quarter, but one swallow doesn’t make a summer.
Still waters run deep	Quiet people often have strong feelings	She doesn’t say much, but still waters run deep.
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree	Children resemble their parents	She’s artistic like her mother;  the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
What goes around comes around	Your actions will return to you	Be kind to others; what goes around comes around.
A fool and his money are soon parted	Foolish people lose money quickly	He invested without research; a fool and his money are soon parted.
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch	Don’t assume future success	The contract isn’t signed yet – don’t count your chickens before they hatch.
Every cloud has a silver lining	Bad situations have some good aspects	I lost my job but found a better one; every cloud has a silver lining.
Good fences make good neighbours	Clear boundaries improve relationships	We agreed on property lines; good fences make good neighbours.
It’s better to be safe than sorry	Caution prevents problems	I’ll take insurance – it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Jack of all trades, master of none	Someone with many skills but no expertise	He can do everything but nothing well – jack of all trades, master of none.
Let sleeping dogs lie	Don’t disturb a stable situation	Don’t mention the old argument; let sleeping dogs lie.
No news is good news	Lack of information suggests things are fine	We haven’t heard from the doctor; no news is good news.
Out of sight, out of mind	People forget what they don’t see regularly	Since he moved away, out of sight, out of mind.
Patience is a virtue	Being patient is a good quality	The results will come eventually; patience is a virtue.
The devil you know is better than the devil you don’t	Familiar problems are better than unknown ones	Keep your current job; the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do	Adapt to local customs	I ate with chopsticks in Japan; when in Rome, do as the Romans do.
A little bird told me	I heard from a secret source	How did you know? A little bird told me.
Don’t wash your dirty linen in public	Don’t discuss private problems publicly	Keep family arguments private – don’t wash your dirty linen in public.
Every man for himself	Everyone must look after themselves	In the emergency, it was every man for himself.
God helps those who help themselves	You must make effort to succeed	Study hard for success; God helps those who help themselves.
If wishes were horses, beggars would ride	Wishing doesn’t make things happen	I wish I were rich, but if wishes were horses, beggars would ride.
Keep your nose to the grindstone	Work hard and steadily	Keep your nose to the grindstone and you’ll succeed.
Love is blind	Love makes you overlook faults	She married him despite his problems, love is blind.
Never look a gift horse in the mouth	Don’t criticise free gifts	The car is old but free, never look a gift horse in the mouth.
One good turn deserves another	Kindness should be returned	He helped me move, and one good turn deserves another.
People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones	Don’t criticise others if you have similar faults	Don’t call her lazy when you skip work – people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.
The early bird gets the worm	Starting early leads to success	I arrived first at the sale, the early bird gets the worm.
Two heads are better than one	Collaboration improves results	Let’s work together on this; two heads are better than one.
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link	A group’s success depends on its weakest member	Our team failed because a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
Don’t throw good money after bad	Don’t waste more resources on a failed venture	The business is failing; don’t throw good money after bad.
Every picture tells a story	Images reveal information	Look at these old photos, every picture tells a story.
Failure is the mother of success	Learning from mistakes leads to achievement	The first attempt failed, but failure is the mother of success.
Hunger is the best sauce	Food tastes better when you’re hungry	After hiking all day, the simple meal was delicious. Hunger is the best sauce.
It’s never too late to learn	You can always acquire new knowledge	At 60, she learned to paint; it’s never too late to learn.
Kill two birds with one stone	Accomplish two tasks simultaneously	I’ll shop and visit my friend, kill two birds with one stone.
Make hay while the sun shines	Take advantage of favourable conditions	Business is good now, make hay while the sun shines.
No pain, no gain	Achievement requires effort	Training is hard, but no pain, no gain.
Opportunity knocks but once	Good chances don’t come often	Take this job offer,  opportunity knocks but once.
Practice what you preach	Act according to your advice	If you tell others to be punctual, practice what you preach.
The exception proves the rule	Unusual cases confirm general principles	He’s usually late, but came early today, the exception proves the rule.
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire	Rumors usually have some truth	People are gossiping about layoffs , where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
Actions speak louder than words	Behaviour is more important than promises	He says he’ll help, but actions speak louder than words.
Beggars can’t be choosers	People in need can’t be selective	The apartment is small, but beggars can’t be choosers.

Idioms for the IELTS Speaking Exam

Here are the top 30 idioms for the IELTS speaking exam that you can refer to bolster your scores. Have a look.

How to Use Idioms in IELTS Speaking?

Idioms for IELTS can add a natural flair to your responses and help you sound more like a native English speaker. But it is important to use idioms correctly and in context. Instead of memorising too many, focus on a few common idioms that you can apply comfortably.

If you are wondering how to use idioms in IELTS speaking, the key is to practise them in daily conversations or while answering mock speaking questions. Furthermore, remember that not every sentence needs an idiom; they should flow naturally and not feel forced.

Usage of Idioms in IELTS Speaking Topic: Sample Answer

Cue Card Topic: Describe a time when you had to make a difficult decision.

Sample Answer:

Last year, I had to decide whether to leave my stable job and pursue further studies abroad. 

It was a tough call because I was earning well, but deep down, I felt like I was stuck in a rut. After weeks of weighing the pros and cons, I decided to bite the bullet and apply to a university overseas. My parents were taken aback at first, but they supported me in the end.

It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, I had to face a lot of challenges during the process. But I kept telling myself, no pain, no gain. 

Looking back, I believe it was a blessing in disguise. I am now studying a subject I am passionate about, and I have grown so much personally and professionally.

List of Idioms used in the IELTS Speaking Sample

List of Idioms used in the Sample Answer	Meaning
Stuck in a rut	Feeling trapped in a routine
Bite the Bullet	Do something difficult or unpleasant
Sunshine and rainbows	A perfect or easy situation
No pain, no gain	Effort is required to achieve something
Blessing in disguise	Something good that seemed bad at first

How Idioms Improve IELTS Speaking Score?

Using idioms effectively for IELTS Speaking is one of the smartest ways to level up your performance in the test. They are a vital part of idiomatic language, which includes not just idioms, but also phrasal verbs, informal expressions, and slang that native speakers often use in daily conversations.

• Examiners look for a conversational tone. Idioms help you speak more like a native speaker, which enhances your fluency and comfort level during the interview.

• Lexical resource is one of the four major scoring criteria. By using idioms appropriately, you show a wider range of vocabulary and word choice, proving that you can use language flexibly and precisely.

• Idioms add colour to your responses. Instead of giving basic or robotic answers, idioms allow you to express emotions, opinions, and descriptions in a more interesting and relatable way.

• Correct idiom usage shows that you understand the tone, mood, and context of the question. This reflects directly on your Coherence and Fluency score.

• A well-placed idiom gives the impression that you are not just memorising lines; in fact, you are thinking and responding in real time, just like a Band 9 speaker would.

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